Therapeutic apparatus

ABSTRACT

Therapeutic apparatus to aid certain disabled and bedridden persons to participate in physical activities otherwise prevented because of their infirmities. In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes an exercise bar supported above a bed by a block and tackle assembly connected with motor means operative therethrough to reciprocate the bar vertically. The bar is also supported for angular displacements about a generally vertical axis, and a reversible drive motor may be included to impart angular displacements to the bar. The apparatus may be used, for example, in exercising the back, leg, arm, and shoulder muscles of a bedridden person.

United States Patent Underwood 1 [451 Aug. 15,1972

1541 THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS 2,315,997 4/1943 Ginsberg ..l28/25R [72]Inventor: y Prima y Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney- Joseph B.Gardner [73] Assignee: Humphrey Elevator and Mk I Company, Faribault,Minn. [57] 7 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Oct. 26,1970 Therapeutic apparatus toaid certain disabled and 21 Appl. No.: 83,702

3,079,914 3/1963 Bush ..l28/25R bedridden persons to participate inphysical activities otherwise prevented because of their infirmities. In

V reversible drive motor may be included to impart angular displacementsto the bar. The apparatus may be used, for example, in exercising theback, leg, arm, and shoulder muscles of a bedridden person.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS This invention relatesto medical or therapeutic apparatus and, more particularly,- toapparatus useful in association with a bed or the like to enable anoccupant thereof to participate in physical activities that he mightotherwise be prevented from enjoying and deriving benefit from.

There are many persons that are either wholly or partially confined inbed because they are physically disabled or are otherwise incapacitated,but who would benefit from physical exercise and other physicalactivities enjoyed by persons not so restricted in their activities. Sofar as is known, little has been done to aid such persons, and anobject, among others, of the present invention is to provide therapeuticapparatus that will enable such persons to engage in beneficial physicalactivities while confined within a bed.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of improvedtherapeutic apparatus of the character described that will enablepersons incapacitated by obesity, a heart condition, injured limbs,fractured ribs, back ailments, and the like to engage in certainphysical activities while confined to a bed, including exercises for theback, leg, arm, and shoulder muscles and the act of coitus without thephysical exertion and discomfort for such person that otherwise aresometimes associated therewith.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention,

especially as concerns particular features and characteristics thereof,will become apparent as the specification continues.

Apparatus embodying the present invention includes.

oscillator structure adapted to be located over a bed or the like inspaced relation therewith, and which structure may take the form of anelongated exercise bar or a concave basket having an open bottom. Theoscillator structure is vertically reciprocable with respect to such bedand is also angularly displaceable relative thereto either because ofmanually applied torque imparted thereto or because of energization of adrive motor provided for this purpose. The oscillator structure iscarried by support mechanism that includes hanger means in the form of apulley wheel attached to a ceiling beam or other component available forthis purpose. Carrier means which may include a block and tackleassembly and swivel connection are operative between the oscillatorstructure and hanger means to supportingly interconnect the latter.Motor means,

such as a variable speed electric motor having a crank attached thereto,is operatively associated with the carrier means for effectingreciprocable displacements of the oscillator structure.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a broken side view in elevation illustrating one embodiment ofthe invention in association with a bed;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, broken side view in elevation showing the detailsof the crank forming a part of the motor means for reciprocating theoscillator structure;

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of a modified embodiment of theinvention in which a concave basket forms the oscillator structure; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, broken side view in elevation of a slightlymodified form of the invention.

As indicated hereinbefore, apparatus constituting the present inventionhas various uses as a therapeutic aid especially for persons that arebedridden or suffer from physical disability or limitation such as mightbe occasioned by obesity, a heart condition, fractured ribs, brokenlimbs, back ailments, etc. In this reference, the apparatus includes anoscillator structure that in variant forms thereof can be used either toenforce movement or exercise upon a person occupying a bed with whichthe apparatus is associated or to minimize or eliminate the requirementfor movement or other physical exertion. Such versatility in theusefulness or utility of the apparatus will become more apparenthereinafter as the'specific motions attributable to the apparatus aremore fully explained.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it is evident that a bed 10 is illustratedwhich is supported upon a floor or platform 11. As respects the presentinvention, the bed 10 may be of any type and take any form, but forpurposes of specificity, it may be taken to be a hospital bed. As shown,it has a head board 12 but no visible foot board since it is covered bya spread 14. The floor 11 may be of any conventional type, and asconcerns the present invention neither the details of the bed 10 nor ofthe floor 11 are germane to the present invention.

Associated with the bed 10 in FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the therapeuticapparatus constituting the present invention, and such apparatus in itsentirety is denoted with the numeral 15. The apparatus 15 includesoscillator structure 16 adapted to be located over the bed 10 ordinarilyin spaced relation therewith. In the form shown in FIG. 1, theoscillator structure 16 is an elongated rod or exercise bar equippedadjacent the ends thereof with eyes or connectors 17 and 18 to which arerespectively attached depending straps or tension elements 19-and 20forming a part of the support mechanism from which the oscillatorstructure 16 is suspended.

The straps 19 and 20 may be rigid rods or bars or they may be flexiblecables such as plastic or fabric rope, and at their upper ends they arerespectively attached to the outer ends of a generally horizontalsupport 21. The support 21 is a :rigid metal bar able, through thestraps l9 and 20, to support any load carried by the oscillatorstructure 16. Intermediate its ends, the support 21 is equipped with acentrally located eye or connector 22 to which is attached a strap 24that may be either rigid or flexible, and at its upper end it is fixedlysecured to a U-shaped bracket 25. The spaced apart legs of the bracket25 extend upwardly through openings provided therefor in a swivel plate26 that forms part of a joint or coupling enabling the oscillatorstructure 16 to traverse angular displacements about a generallyvertical axis through the center of the plate 26. As is perhaps moreapparent in FIG. 4, the legs of the U-shaped bracket 25 are constrainedagainst downward displacement relative to the plate 26 by nutsthreadedly secured to the ends of the bracket legs and bearing againstthe upper surface of the plate.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, any such angulardisplacements of theoscillator structure 16 are manually enforcedthereon and are most satisfactorily accomplished when all of thecomponents securing the oscillator structure 16 to the plate 26 arerigid. That is to say, whenever the straps l9 and 20,

support bar 21, strap 24, and U-shaped bracket 25 are all stiff or rigidelements, any tendency toward angular displacements enforced upon theoscillator structure 16 will occur at the swivel connection defined inpart by the plate 26.

More particularly, and referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that theplate 26 has a central opening therethrough in which a sleeve bearing 27may be mounted to provide a journal for a vertical shaft or axle 28having an eye or connector 29 at its upper end by means of which it issecured to a pair of parallel hanger straps 20 forming a part of a blockand tackle assembly which includes a pulley wheel or sheave 31 rotatablysupported between the straps 30. The lower end portion of the axle 28 isthreaded so as to receive a nut 32 thereon which carries the plate 26through a large washer 34 and thrust bearing 35 interposed between theupper surface of the washer 34 and facing lower surface of the plate 26.Evidently then, the plate 26 and members attached thereto by means ofwhich the oscillator structure 16 is supported are angularlydisplaceableabout the vertical axis defined by the axle 28.

The block and tackle assembly further includes a tackle or cable 36which may be of conventional form and will usually constitute a strandedfabric, plastic, or metal wire cable. In any case, the cable 36 isentrained about the pulley wheel 31 and at one end is attached to hangermeans in the form of a hanger member 37 having a bifurcated lower enddefining spaced apart legs 38 that rotatably receive a pulley wheel 39therebetween. At its upper end, the hanger 37 has a threaded stem 40adapted to pass through an opening provided therefor in a beam 41. Thebeam 41 may be attached to the ceiling of the room space within whichthe bed is located, and which room space has a vertical side wall 42spaced from the head of the bed, or it may form a part of the ceilingand be one of the joists or rafters thereof. In any case, the hanger 37is held in place by a nut 42 that threadedly engages the stem 40 andbears downwardly against the upper surface'of the beam 41.

The cable 36 passes over the pulley wheel 39 so as to change thedirection of the cable from a generally vertical to a generallyhorizontal orientation, and the direction of the cable is again changedas it passes over a pulley wheel 44 attached to the beam 41 by hangerstructure 45 located a spaced distance from the hanger 37. The cable 36passes downwardly from the pulley wheel 44 along the vertical room wall42, and at its lower end it is attached to a crank forming a part ofmotor means operative to effect vertical reciprocations of theoscillator structure 16.

In the form shown, the motor means comprises an electric motor 46 whichmay be a variable speed motor, bolted or otherwise rigidly attached tothe floor 11, as through a base plate 47. The crank includes an arm 48drivingly connected to the output shaft of the motor 46 so as to berotated thereby, and it further includes a rotatable handle 49 to whichthe cable 36 is attached by means of a coupling or fastener 50. Thehandle 49 is adjustably mounted upon the arm 48 at any of a number oflocations therealong so as to vary the radial distance of the handlefrom the axis of rotation of the output shaft of the motor 46 andthereby adjust the throw of the crank. In this respect, the arm 48 has aplurality of spaced apart apertures 51 therealong through which amachine screw 52 selectively extends and by means of which the handle 49is removably secured to the arm 48.

The motor 46 has a low operating speed or velocity, and in the usualcase it will be a gearhead motor having relatively high torque butdelivering a relatively low angular velocity to the arm 48 of the crank.In the event of the motor 46 being a variable speed motor, the angularvelocity imparted to the crank can be adjusted as desired. It will beevident that an energizing circuit for the motor 46 must be provided andthat suitable controls therefor will be associated with the bed 10 so asto be within convenient reach of an occupant thereof, but sincecircuitry and controls are standard and well known, they have beenomitted for convenience, simplification, and clarity.

Prior to describing an operational cycle of the apparatus, the modifiedoscillator structure illustrated in FIG. 3 will be discussed. Referringthereto, it will be observed that the oscillator structure takes theform of an upwardly concave container or basket 64 having a hollowinterior defining a compartment therewithin. The basket 54 is relativelylarge and able to support a persons weight, and it has an opened bottomindicated generally at 55. Along opposite sides thereof, the basket 54is provided with a plurality of spaced apart connectors 56, 57 and 58which are selectively secured to the depending'straps 19 and 20, onlyone of which is shown in FIG. 3. Each connector 47 is located at thecenter of the basket 54 so that when the straps l9 and 20 are secured tothe connectors 57, the basket will be balanced with the open bottom 55thereof generally parallel to the plane of the underlying bed 10.Whenever the straps 19 and 20 are attached to either the connectors 56or 58, the basket 54 will assume an angular disposition such as shown bybroken lines in FIG. 3 corresponding toattachment of the straps to theconnectors 58.

A further modification of the apparatus is shown in FIG. 4, and itvaries from the embodiments heretofore considered in' that a motor isused to impart angular displacements to the block 26 and oscillatorstructure carried thereby. In order to effect such motor-driven angulardisplacements of the plate 26 relative to the axle 28, an internal ringgear 59 is bolted or otherwise secured to the plate 56 along the uppersurface thereof. In meshing engagement with the teeth of the gear 59 isa pinion gear 60 attached to the output shaft 61 of a motor 62 rigidlysecured by bracket structure 64 to the hanger straps 30. The motor 62may be an electric motor and will have the usual energizing circuit andcontrols, none of which are shown since conventional and well known. Themotor 62 is advantageously a reversible motor so that the plate 26 canbe rotated or displaced angularly in either direction about the shaft oraxle 28.

In use of the apparatus, one occuping the bed-10 can energize the motor46 by means of the controls (not shown) therefor which are located at aposition appropriate for this purpose. When the motor 46 is energized,the crank comprising the arm 48 and handle 49 are rotated about the axisof the output shaft of the motor with the result that the handle 49traverses an orbital path about such axis of rotation. As a consequenceof such orbital movement of the handle 49,

the cable 36 will cyclically traverse a reversible path of travel, asindicated by the arrows in FIG. I, so that the vertical distance betweenthe pulley wheels 31 and 39 is continuously varied, thereby impartingreciprocable displacements to the oscillator structure 16.

It should be appreciated that the block and tackle as sembly can be madeas complex as desired to change the magnitude of the torque required tobe delivered by the motor 46 to accommodate any given weight or loadcarried by the oscillator structure, and to change the extent of thereciprocable displacements of the oscillator structure in accordancewith the rotary motion of the handle 49. In the particular arrangementillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the mechanical advantage defined by theblock and tackle assembly is in the ratio of two-toone so that a forceof 100 pounds applied to the cable 36 will be able to support a load of200 pounds bearing downwardly upon the hanger straps 30 (neglectingfriction). At the same time, however, the displacement defined by theblock and tackle assembly is in the ratio of one-to-two so that thevertical distance traversed by the pulley wheel 31 will be one half thevertical distance traversed by the handle 49 to which the cable 36 isattached. Although the displacement ratios will remain the same, thethrow or vertical displacement of the handle 49 can be changed byvarying the position thereof along the arm 48, as heretofore'explained.

Assuming the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, the oscil lator structure 16can be made to move angularly in either direction during suchreciprocatory displacements thereof because of the swivel connectiondefined between the block 26 and axle 28. The extent and direction ofany such angular displacements will be determined manually such as byapplication of an appropriate force to the oscillator structure. In thecase of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 in which the motor 52 and ringgear 59 are provided, angular displacements may be imparted selectivelyin either direction to the oscillator structure simply by energizing themotor 62 in the appropriate direction. It will be apparent that thevertical reciprocatory displacements of the oscillator structure 16 andhorizontal angular displacements thereof are independent one from theother so that they may be used individually or in combination.

Especially in the configuration of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, it maybe used to enforce muscular use and exercise while relieving some of thestrain otherwise attributable thereto. For example, one laying in thebed could grasp the oscillator structure 16 with his hands individuallyand upon energization of the motor 46, the individual would becyclically raised and lowered through a predetermined distance so as toexercise his back muscles. At the same time, he could move such musclesin a rotational sense by twisting the oscillator structure so as todisplace the same angularly about the vertical axis defined by the axle28. Alternatively, appropriate manipulation of the energizing circuitfor the motor 62 would afford some angular stretching of the bodymuscles during the reciprocable displacements of the oscillatorstructure. The leg and hip muscles could similarly be exercised byplacing the ankles or legs over the oscillator apparatus 16 so as torest thereupon. The oscillator structure in the form of the basket 54has similar utilities and can serve to support the female partner duringcoitus so as to enable participation by a bed ridden male otherwiseprevented therefrom because of a disabling physical condition of sometype.

The height of the oscillator structure relative to the bed 10 can beadjusted to the desired elevation by changing the effective length ofthe cable '36 as, for example, by varying the point at which it issecured to the coupling 50 attached to the rotatable handle 49. Thus,the oscillator structure 16 can be raised or lowered to accommodate therequirements of any particular occupant of the bed 10.

It will be evident that the various components and elements maintainingthe oscillator structure at the general elevation selected thereforcomprise support mechanism which may be subdivided conveniently intohanger means secured to the beam 41 and, carrier means operative betweenthe hanger means and oscillator structure. The motor means, althoughactually contributing to the support of the oscillator structure, isconsidered for the most part as the source of motive power effectingreciprocable displacements of the oscillator structure.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention havebeen set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a completedisclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatnumerous changes may be made in; such details without departing from thespirit and principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character described: oscillator structure adaptedto be located over a bed or the like in spaced relation therewith and tobe vertically reciprocable with respect thereto; support mechanism forsaid oscillator structure to support the same at such location includinghanger means attachable to a fixed support therefor, and carrier meansinterconnecting said oscillator structure and hanger means in supportingthe former; and motor means operatively connected with said carriermeans for effecting reciprocable displacements therethrough of saidoscillator structure, said oscillator structure comprising a concavebasket having an open bottom, said carrier means being connected to saidbasket at spaced apart locations therealong.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said motor means comprises anelectric motor.

3. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said electric motor is a variablespeed motor.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said motor means further comprisesa crank having an arm drivingly connected with said electric motor so asto be rotated thereby and a handle rotatably supported by said arm andorbited thereby along a circular path upon energization of said electricmotor, in which said carrier means includes a block and tackle assemblyhaving a cable connected with said handle so as to effect the aforesaidreciprocable displacements of said oscillator structure uponenergization of said electric motor, and in which said hanger meansincludes a pulley wheel forming a part of said block and tackleassembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in. which said handle is adjustably securedto said arm so as to be selectively attached thereto at variouslocations therealong so that the throw of said crank can be adjusted tovary the ex- LII with said swivel connection so as to enforce angulardisplacements therethrough upon said oscillator structure, said basketbeing equipped with a plurality of paired connectors to which saidcarrier means are selectively attachable so as to enable the angularorientation of said basket to be selectively adjusted.

1. In apparatus of the character described: oscillator structure adaptedto be located over a bed or the like in spaced relation therewith and tobe vertically reciprocable with respect thereto; support mechanism forsaid oscillator structure to support the same at such location includinghanger means attachable to a fixed support therefor, and carrier meansinterconnecting said oscillator structure aNd hanger means in supportingthe former; and motor means operatively connected with said carriermeans for effecting reciprocable displacements therethrough of saidoscillator structure, said oscillator structure comprising a concavebasket having an open bottom, said carrier means being connected to saidbasket at spaced apart locations therealong.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1in which said motor means comprises an electric motor.
 3. The apparatusof claim 6 in which said electric motor is a variable speed motor. 4.The apparatus of claim 2 in which said motor means further comprises acrank having an arm drivingly connected with said electric motor so asto be rotated thereby and a handle rotatably supported by said arm andorbited thereby along a circular path upon energization of said electricmotor, in which said carrier means includes a block and tackle assemblyhaving a cable connected with said handle so as to effect the aforesaidreciprocable displacements of said oscillator structure uponenergization of said electric motor, and in which said hanger meansincludes a pulley wheel forming a part of said block and tackleassembly.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said handle is adjustablysecured to said arm so as to be selectively attached thereto at variouslocations therealong so that the throw of said crank can be adjusted tovary the extent of the reciprocable displacements of said oscillatorstructure.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said carrier meanscomprises a swivel connection affording angular displacements of saidoscillator relative to said hanger means structure about a generallyvertical axis.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said carrier meansfurther comprises a motor drivingly connected with said swivelconnection so as to enforce angular displacements therethrough upon saidoscillator structure, said basket being equipped with a plurality ofpaired connectors to which said carrier means are selectively attachableso as to enable the angular orientation of said basket to be selectivelyadjusted.